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All you need to know about Kicking Horse, Panorama and Revelstoke can be summed up in four words: continuously skiable vertical drop. All three rank in the ten 10 resorts in North America for relentless vertical drop. You get all that quad-searing, heart-pounding terrain without the crowds that slam the large resorts closer to Calgary.

Insider Tips: This is an expert hill. Ski Magazine this year named Kicking Horse one of the top five challenging ski areas in North America. Intermediate skiers and riders, take note: what’s considered blue at Kicking Horse would qualify as black anywhere else. Experts, if you’re looking for the best terrain around, take the Stairway to Heaven chair, follow the staircase to the right and keep walking to the top. Drop in anywhere.

Despite a busy schedule with the Canadian Ski Cross Team, Dave Duncan has strong ties to Golden. “Competitive skiing can be a grind at times, so it was always nice returning home to Kicking Horse and remember why I love skiing,” he says. “The mountain has helped keep the balance between racing and recreating.” His recommendations are Prosperity and Certainty off the Whitewall ridge which can often accumulate the best snow on the mountain. Kicking Horse is great for “top to bottom runs that will give you as much vertical as your legs can handle.”

Panorama Mountain Village

Claims to Fame: People often overlook this resort deep in the Purcell mountains. That works to the tremendous advantage of everyone who doesn’t. After a decade of significant expansion, Panorama has grown into an impressive ski-in/ski-out destination resort with modern accommodations and amenities at the village. It’s home to the country’s largest slopeside hot pools, reasonably priced beers and a vertical that can induce as much thigh-burning as any resort in North America.

What’s New: Panorama’s slopes were target of upgrades this season. The resort invested in state-of-the-art snow-making guns, along with glading and brush-clearing projects. Major changes on hill include new access to Outback Ridge and Taynton Bowl, and a new chute in the Alive Glades. Daily lift prices rose $3 this year but come with new extras, including access to the snow tube park, tobogganing area, Nordic trails and night skiing Thursday to Sunday.

Insider Tips: Always check the morning grooming report. In addition to its regular groomed runs, “Pano” grooms a different signature run daily — making for an exceptional ski experience first thing in the morning. For a caffeine fix, fuel up at Lusti’s Cappuccino Bar. For après ski, go for the delectable three-course meal at Greys Restaurant.

A veteran from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Brad Spence is a slalom and giant slalom specialist aiming for the podium at Sochi. He trained on Team Panorama after persuading his figure skating family to turn to skiing when he was six. Nowadays he thinks Panorama’s best secret is Taynton Bowl especially after an overnight dump: “Even if it has been a few days, you’ll more than likely still be able to find some light fluffy stuff,” he says. Riding the Summit Quad to the top of the mountain is “truly majestic,” he says, with the 360-degree view of the Purcell Mountains. Christmas at Panorama is time for family get-togethers for Spence who also loves spring there with mid-winter conditions up top and après ski festivities below. His tips: start off at Lusti’s Cappuccino Bar; check out his action shot on the wall; ski Schober’s Dream and Millennium first thing; find untouched areas into late afternoon; and end the day at the T-Bar and Grill for hot wings.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Opening Date: Nov. 30, 2013

Claims to Fame: In its seven years of operation, Revy has racked up the records. It’s home to the greatest vertical drop in North America. It’s the only resort to offer lift, cat, helicopter and backcountry skiing from the village base. This year, in Powder Magazine’s Powder Per Person ranking system, Revy came in first of all North American resorts by a huge margin.

What’s New: In a place that’s already as big as they come, you’ll find more places to ski this year. RMR added more beginner terrain, widened the Ninja Traverse, remodelled 007 and aggressively gladed the Tasty Glades and Rollercoaster areas. They’ve added a second bomb tram which — fingers crossed! — will open Greely and North bowls a little earlier on powder days. This year, daily guided-snowshoe tours will take you through the groomed trails in the sub-alpine forests of the Selkirk Mountains. One much welcome addition: they’ve launched a new shuttle service between Calgary and Revelstoke four times a week.

Insider Tips: On a powder day, head over towards Sweet Spot in North Bowl as soon as the area opens. You might spot some locals heading into an area known as “Three Bears.” You won’t find it identified on a trail map so you need a local to get to the best terrain. Poke around through the trees until you pop out on Downtowner. Loop back to the Stoke Chair. That’s how to spend a powder day. Don’t miss out on the homemade burgers at The Mackenzie Outpost at the top of the Revelation Gondola.

Canadian Alpine ski racer Christina Lustenberger got to know Revelstoke well by coaching the local ski team from 2009 – 2012. She’s now a guide for Canadian Mountain Holidays, touring the Revy heli-ski areas as well as the resort. “Revelstoke has amazing terrain, and the snow to back it,” she says. Her favourite runs are Separate Reality and To Kill the Banker as well as direct fall-line descents off the Stoke Chair. Revelstoke’s incredible amount of snow mean that Lustenberger has often skied in 30 cm of fresh snow on closing day. “With the top lift at 2200 meters you can have any kind of temp any time of the year. This also provides great cold snow for skiing,” she says.

- What the Olympian Says sections were written by Louise Hudson

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B.C. ski resorts pack a big punch

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